Hutto General Store gets $20K grant
HUTTO — This year, more than 500 small businesses across the country received financial boosts of $20,000 each from the Amex Shop Small Grants Program including The Hutto General Store.
Owned by the Widmer family for almost 40 years, the store at 103 East St. is thought to be the oldest, continuously operated retail outlet in the growing city.
Over the decades, the shop has served many purposes before settling into its more traditional role as a country store “that offers something for everyone,” employees said.
Owner Matt Widmer said he had been on the lookout for the AMEX Shop Small Grants Program, which is designed to help local mercantiles. Three years ago, he unsuccessfully applied for a grant but recently learned the family-run store would be a recipient.
“The Amex Shop Small Grants Program, in partnership with American Express, is funding more than 500 grants of $20,000 each, empowering small businesses to grow, innovate and support their local communities,” according to the program’s website.
Officials said the endeavor was launched with a $5 million contribution to support 250 small businesses in honor of America’s 250year anniversary.
“We’re going to use the grant money to purchase new lighting throughout the store, repaint the storefront and buy a new, larger candy cooler,” Widmer said.
Over the years, the program’s awards doubled, supporting 500 small businesses with an extra $1 paid for every eligible transaction made on Small Business Saturday in November 2025, and an additional $5 million contribution from American Express.
“(This expanded) the program’s reach and impact to small businesses and the communities they serve,” said Camille Valdez, senior strategist for Day One Agency, in a prepared release about the grant.
Widmer said the Hutto General Store will increase its marketing and retail offerings.
He also wants to drive more foot traffic to the city’s historic downtown and strengthen local tourism.
His mother, Janet Widmer, opened the store in the 1980s as a location for her interiordesign firm. The outlet at the time sold home furnishings and reupholstery materials and supplies and later branched out into gifts and home décor.
Matt Widmer took over the store about 15 years ago with the help of his sister, Kim.
“I really wanted (Hutto General Store) to become more of a gift store,” he said.
Today, visitors can find clothing and jewelry, books and toys, Hutto Hippo mascot merchandise and a wide selection of candy and sodas, including oldtime general store rock
candy. For more about the grant, visit mainstreet. org/about/partner-collaborations/ amex-shopsmall- grant-program.
